The tax incentive was created four years ago as a way to stimulate small-business growth. But Democrats, including Revenue Committee Chairman Phil Barnhart, said it disproportionately benefits doctors and lawyers.

"It's hard to see why wealthy professionals should get a tax deal that working people can't get," Barnhart said.

He said the tax break was rewritten in a way that would protect the kind of small businesses it was meant to help.

But Republicans, including Carl Wilson disagreed. Wilson said the measure would harm far more than wealthy entrepreneurs.

"You're going to be surprised at how many of those people you know in your district, except they wear jeans and t-shirts and boots," he said.

The measure was approved with the bare minimum of votes needed for passage. It now heads to the Oregon Senate.